German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali Radovan visited Indonesia from 18 to 20 August 2026, accompanied by a German business delegation.
Organized by the German Embassy in Jakarta, the programme highlighted the breadth of German-Indonesian cooperation, ranging from renewable energy and investment to vocational training, health, and sustainable development. EKONID Executive Director Dr. Monika Erath accompanied the delegation throughout the visit.
At the start of the programme on 18 August, EKONID contributed directly to the delegation’s preparation through a country briefing for Minister Alabali Radovan. Led by German Ambassador to Indonesia H.E. Ralf Beste, the briefing was supported by Dr. Monika Erath, who provided insights from the perspective of the German-Indonesian business community alongside Oliver Döhne, Director of Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) in Jakarta.
The briefing provided an overview of Indonesia’s economic and business environment and current developments relevant to German companies operating in or considering the Indonesian market. It also offered context for the meetings and site visits that followed during the Minister’s three-day programme.
Following the briefing, Minister Alabali Radovan and the delegation visited Bayer’s manufacturing facility in Cimanggis, Depok, as well as IPB University in Bogor. At Bayer, the programme highlighted German-Indonesian cooperation on the local production of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) for pregnant women as part of efforts to improve maternal and child health and reduce stunting in Indonesia. The visit to IPB, meanwhile, showcased how renewable-energy solutions can be applied to agricultural value chains, including through solar-powered cooling technology aimed at reducing post-harvest losses.
Energy cooperation moved to the centre of the programme on 19 August, when Minister Alabali Radovan opened the Indonesia Sustainable Energy Week (ISEW) 2026 in Jakarta together with H.E. Prof. Rachmat Pambudy, Minister of National Development Planning, and H.E. Yuliot Tanjung, Vice Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.
Hosted by the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, with support from the Government of Germany and organised by GIZ Indonesia & ASEAN, ISEW brought together policymakers, businesses, investors, academia, development partners, and other stakeholders to discuss how Indonesia’s energy-transition ambitions can be translated into investment, projects, and practical solutions. More than 700 participants attended the opening day.
Speaking during her visit, Minister Alabali Radovan reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting Indonesia’s energy transition and highlighted the opportunities that closer cooperation could create for both countries. Germany’s development cooperation in the sector includes support for renewable energy and modern electricity grids, while the visit also placed particular emphasis on facilitating the involvement of German companies in Indonesia’s transition.
The Minister’s programme on the second day also included a visit to Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, reflecting the wider scope of the bilateral relationship beyond economic and development cooperation.
On 20 August, Minister Alabali Radovan met Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs H.E. Airlangga Hartarto in Jakarta, with discussions focusing on renewable energy, economic cooperation, and vocational training.
Minister Airlangga welcomed the German delegation’s efforts to advance pipeline projects in Indonesia’s renewable-energy sector, while Minister Alabali Radovan highlighted the role German companies can play in supporting sustainable development in the country. Both sides also discussed opportunities to expand vocational training for young Indonesians, including programmes involving German companies in Indonesia and Germany.
The meeting further highlighted the role of German institutions already active in the bilateral partnership. Minister Alabali Radovan specifically highlighted the German Embassy, GIZ, KfW, and EKONID as partners in strengthening economic and development cooperation between Germany and Indonesia.
The delegation’s final programme also included a visit to the Cirata Floating Solar PV project in West Java. The site visit highlighted the practical application of renewable-energy cooperation, including efforts to improve weather forecasting and facilitate the integration of variable renewable energy into Indonesia’s electricity system.
For EKONID, the three-day visit provided an opportunity to contribute the perspective of the German business community directly to high-level bilateral exchanges.
As Germany and Indonesia continue to strengthen their economic and development partnership, EKONID will continue to facilitate dialogue between businesses, institutions, and policymakers, connect German and Indonesian stakeholders, and support the development of practical opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
